technology Best Antivirus Program?

[Gekoncze 327]

On the windows computers, we have ESET Smart security (had NOD 32 before - also great) and it works perfectly. It is not hanging CPU like Kaspersky (I remember my old pc... when we had Eset there, it was fast and then we installed Kaspersky and it was sooo slow). Since installing Eset, we didn't have any problem with viruses. The very 1st time we used Avast, which is good, but you have to do scans lot often there, because viruses pass from time to time with Avast...

oh and don't even think about Northon - it made me a lot of troubble on my laptop - I had to remove it using Linux live CD, because I couldn't uninstall it, because it blocked almost everything in windows.

 

EDIT: oh and if you use Avast free version, it is also good to have Spybot alongside.

Edited February 25, 2013 by Gekoncze

[Jokuc 8,174]

I use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, gets rid of dangerous viruses and cleans my computer of the virsuses. Pretty much, very trustworthy.

Malware Bytes, it's a free program but has protected my computer over the years and is extremely reliable to find any trojan, malware, backdoor, etc.

MBAM is a good free scanner but it does not have that real-time-protection which is very good to have.

MBAM will never replace an Anti Virus, because it does not scan for the same things as a normal Anti-Virus would, it won't look in .zip files or simliar and it cant remove an malicious code from a file. Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware is what it's called. Made to remove malware. Though is it very good to use along with an antivirus program as I do.

Edited February 25, 2013 by Jokuc

[Pony Joe 583]

Nowadays, if you're at least somewhat smart about which sites you visit, you'll never need antivirus.

 

That said, you might as well get something with low memory usage like MSE.  You know, just in case.

[ApexHunter 166]

Am I the only one that's gonna say none?
Because every antivirus I've tried, always decided to mess with me at some point so I just don't use any of em at all.
I'm pretty sure some (or all) will disagree with me but it's the best way, at least for me.
 

[Kamil 315]

I use Windows Defender/Microsoft Security Essentials (They used to be separate, but as of Windows 8 they are now a single program and installed by default), mainly because it has very few false positives and is typically good enough to prevent anything that doesn't require actively installing the virus (i.e. just hitting allow every time it pops up no matter what). So far nothing bad has come of it.

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

The best defense is common sense and cautious browsing. Where those aren't sufficient, I've found Microsoft Security Essentials to be more than capable of picking up the slack. After two years of using it following a glowing review in one of Maximum PC's antivirus roundups, it's given me no false positives, it scans fairly quickly, and has a lower footprint than anything else I've tried in the past.

[Betez 1,734]

Anyone who voted for Norton, just, why? I mean seriously, Norton is so horrible that it's better to have no anti-virus than to have Norton because it just messes with your computer without informing you. It might as well be a virus in itself.

 

AVG is the way to go.

 

Norton's biggest issue is that it exists. Seriously, Norton is the Windows Vista of the Anti-virus world. Yes, it's that bad. Not exaggerating, I couldn't mod Halo CE because it would delete Sapien and Tool ++ (Without telling me) even when I specifically configured it not to.

Really? I've never had that problem. Sure, it can be a pain in the ass to have to configure it to not delete downloads. But once you do, it's never asked me again. I like Norton a lot better than Mcafee.

[Prismatic 49]

I suppose the test of time for me is how well Anti-Virus programs run on my Toughbook fleet (4 working Pentium IIIs, one of which has a 2D Lynx video chipset which is like watching a slideshow with basic XP).  I think the last three I've used is Avast, Norton (the one that Comcast provides) and MSE.

 

Avast has been known for the last three years to cause hardware level errors in my Hitachi Travelstars, even in the SATA model drives...Sadly they have never fessed up to it and blame Hitachi for it (if I remember this was from 4.8 to 6.0 that it began).  The other problem with Avast! is that its Sandbox is literally a pain, it loads on even older CD-ROM programs (like PowerDVD 5 from 2002) which is kinda pointless.  Good intentions but not really viable I guess.

 

Norton (I think I do have that version installed on a Vista machine) I've not really seen to be a big problem.  Granted when the video card died its drivers became corrupted but that was anticipated.

 

For the most part I still use MSE, it's somewhat light (remember, Pentium III) but it does love to scan your downloads folder if you ever choose to open it.  Then again I rarely get viruses and 'Windows Defender as per Windows 8' caught the malicious PHP script I had found on another brony website.  Go figure.

[Gone Airbourne 21,977]

Without a doubt I would have to go with avast and avg equally. I am using avast currently right now and I have never had a problem with viruses. I have used AVG in the past as well and it worked great too. Those are the two I will always reccomend.

[Gekoncze 327]

Am I the only one that's gonna say none?

Because every antivirus I've tried, always decided to mess with me at some point so I just don't use any of em at all.

I'm pretty sure some (or all) will disagree with me but it's the best way, at least for me.

 

If you use Linux, then you are safe (I use it, and didn't get any virus yet), but I don't think you are safe with windows... I remember being one day without Antivirus (licence expired) and I got virus immidietly by just opening browser (I had some... bad site saved in one of the tabs)

[askthetechbrony 30]

I have always used Avast! but it has its downsides. It always announces when it updates its virus definitons. (literally a voice announces it on your computer and a box pops up in the lower right hand corner of the screen) Besides that Avast! has never given me a problem and has always kept my computer clean. I am an IT specialist so the best advice I can give you is no virus software can catch them all so always back up your files and make sure you can reboot the OS if need be.

[hawkflame 3,310]

I use a combination of Avast and Malwarebytes, with Adaware, and SuperAntiSpyware as my antispyware programs.  Avast is great- their real time protection has saved my computer's behind more than once.

[Starflower 323]

I am (and have always been) an Avast! user. The only downside is it gets annoying when it announces that it updates, but in terms of the actual antivirus it works like a charm! I haven't switched to any other antivirus ever since. It knows when your computer is in danger and it does its work. 

[Viscra Maelstrom 3,718]

Nowadays, if you're at least somewhat smart about which sites you visit, you'll never need antivirus.

 

That said, you might as well get something with low memory usage like MSE.  You know, just in case.

you're bound to catch something at least once no matter how much common sense you have. all it does is make you more aware of the signs an infestation brings and dealing with it more efficiently than an average user.

 

i used to have Avira for the longest time, but with time it seemed to get more lackluster in terms of protection, so i switched to Avast. a bit CPU heavy but it works well i suppose.

[uuunph 288]

I have always used Avast! but it has its downsides. It always announces when it updates its virus definitons. (literally a voice announces it on your computer and a box pops up in the lower right hand corner of the screen) Besides that Avast! has never given me a problem and has always kept my computer clean. I am an IT specialist so the best advice I can give you is no virus software can catch them all so always back up your files and make sure you can reboot the OS if need be.

 

I am (and have always been) an Avast! user. The only downside is it gets annoying when it announces that it updates, but in terms of the actual antivirus it works like a charm! I haven't switched to any other antivirus ever since. It knows when your computer is in danger and it does its work. 

 

Come on guys, you can disable those easily. It's not a downside in any way when it can be configured in the options. Disable the sound for automatic updates, disable the notification box for automatic updates. Problem solved, stress saved, ponies watched, etc.

 

Avast is my AV of choice when using a Windows OS. Works real nice, plenty of options for the free version. Very lightweight as well.

[BastementSparkle 20,328]

I Raise this thread from the dead!

 

 I use the free version of Avast along with the free version of Malwarebytes. They've served me well so far. Though I tend to stick to the safer side of the internet so I haven't needed them often, but it's always good to be prepared.

Edited July 25, 2014 by BasementPrincess

[Thunderlane 550]

I use AVG and I haven't got a virus since I got it (2 years ago)

So a thumbs up for me on AVG

[Chacobos 160]

The Avast/Malwarebytes combo is pretty baller. Malwarebytes will take care of most things while Avast helps patch up the very few vague holes Malwarebytes has. 

Edited July 25, 2014 by Captain Variance

[Critical Mass 178]

As you know there are viruses, trojan horses, etc. around the world now vot on which you think might protect are computer/laptop or phone from most of them

Edited November 2, 2014 by Genuine Arrow

[Feather Grass 312]

I personally prefer my combo of Malwarebytes and Zonealarm Free AV and Firewall

[Twisted Cyclone 🚓 6,262]

I use Norton Antivirus. It's the best in my opinion.

[boiteporte 591]

Objectively speaking, Kaspersky came out at the top in most Antivirus tests. Hence, I have Kaspersky.

[Scrubbed user 3,417]

Objectively speaking, Kaspersky came out at the top in most Antivirus tests. Hence, I have Kaspersky.

 

Same for me. Kaspersky or nothing.

[An Unknown Pony. 370]

Both avast and McAfee,they're both equally good.

[long gone 8,929]

ESET Smart Security. Probably one of the best, if not the best security suite out there.